Automatic adjustable waistband



June 10, 1952 R. R. FANNING AUTOMATIC ADJUSTABLE WAISTBAND OriginalFiled Nov. 20. 1947 l,bo 59, (ee

INVENTOR RALPH R. FA NNING ATTORNEYS FIGB.

Patented June 10, 1952 :AUTOMATIC ADJUSTABLE 'VEAI'STBAND Ralph .1b.-lamll'mg, Celina, Ohio, assigner to Winner, Inc., Berne, Ind., acorporation of Indiana .Original 4application November `.2.4, 1947:Serial No. 787,053, now APatent, No. 2,526,813, `dated October 24,1950.Divided .and this applicatie rSeptember 1, '1950, Serial No. 186,693

1 claim. 1

'This invention relates` to improvements in 'garments and Vmoreparticularly rto a waistband for trousers and like garments that areautomatically adjustable in size to the waist of the wearer. The

case is a .division 'of my copending application, now Patent 2,526,813,October 24, 1950.

The object of the invention is to provide an automatically kadjustablewaistband'for garments, of simple and economical construction, which isautomatically adjusted to the waist of the wearer.

Another object of the invention is to provide van automaticallyadjustable waistband for garments which conceals the point of adjustmentwithin a plait formed in the side of the gar- A [further Yobject 'of theinvention is to provide 'an 'automatically adjustable waistband fortrousers' which conceals the point of adjustment within side pockets insuch a way Vas to afford side pockets of normal proportions andconstruction, thus avoiding unsightly wrinkles and gatherings.

Another object of the invention is to provide a waistband that adjustsitself without the use Yof buckles, clasps and the like, to the vwaistoi 'the wearer.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automaticallyadjustable waistband that may lbe attached to existing styles oftrousers.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic adjustablewaistband for trousers that permits the elimination of the use of a beltand Suspenders as well as belt loops and tunnel loops.

A further Aobject of the inventionfis toprovide an automaticallyadjustable waistband that always presents a neat and close tabout thewaist.

Another object 'of the invention is to provide an adjustable waistbandvthat is automatically extensible and contractib'le within the locusofthe waistband to ilt the waist of the wearer.

A further `object of the invention-is to provide anadjustable waistbandthat is automatically extensible and contractible within a wide lrangeYof adjustments to iit the waist of -`the wearer in vall sitting,bending, lying and Vstanding positions.

this speci'iication and in which like numerals 'are employed todesignate like parts throughout "the same:

Figure 1 is 'an elevational View ofthe automatically vadjustablewaistband.

Figure 2 is a View similar to that of Figure l, but showing thewaistband and the side 'pocket in extended position.

Figure 3 is a view of the form shown in Figure l as viewed from theinside of the garment.

Figure 4 isa sectional view along the section #i-si of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a View of Figure 3 with vthe vgarment in extended'position,and

Figure 6 is an elevational view showing an alternative way of attaching`an end of an yelastic to the waistband lining by means of forming-aplait inthe lining.

The double acting elastic assembly is shown associated with a continuousfront garment 'so as to automatically adjust the same around the waistof the wearer.' In Figure 1, the front panel is indicated at 50, whilethe rear panel is indicated at 5l. The rear panel extends forward to aseam 52 by which it is attached to a forwardextending flap or pocketfacing Ela extending forward 'to `where its forward'edge 53 is attachedto the adjacent inner wallof the side pocketby stitching 53', seeFigures 1 to 5. The flap portion Bia, as will be seen in vFigures 1 and2, lies behind the outer wall of theside pocket to be described later.The seam joining the rear panel 5l and `the flap portion Bia extendsupward to a point indicated at a in Figures 1 and 2 thereby leavingunattached the forward'upper portion of the'rearpanel -ex'tendingbetween points a and b.

A rearwardly extending waistband portion 54 has its forward end attachedto the front'panel 50 by a seam at 55 from which it extends rearwardlybehind the rear panel, as shown at point a to point band by the brokenaway portion of the rear panel 5I in'Figures l and 2. -A front waistbandlining in the form of a facing or curtain piece 55,Figures 3 and'5, hasits upper edge secured to the upper edge of the front 'panel 5f!! on theinsidethereo'f, while its forward edge 'is sewn to the'adjacent flypiece of the front panel. The portionalong the rear edge of the liningI56 overlies and is attached to the front end 'of Va second lining 57that constitutes a'rearward rex,-

tension thereof and which has its upper edgep'ortion-secured to theupper edge portion 'of the adjacent front panel and the rearwardly'extending waistband portion 54. The waistband lining `or facingpieces55 "and 5'1 .and the waistband :portion 5 forms what is termed thefrontwaistband.

Where the lining 51 extends behind the back side of the waistbandportion 54, the lower edge is also stitched to the said waistbandportion and forms therewith a tubular casing indicated generally at 58in Figures l and 2. The lower edge of the linings 56 and 5l may bestitched throughout their entire length to the front panel 50, therebyforming a front tubular waistband sec-Y tion throughout their entirelength.

Within the rear end of the tubular casing 58, there is inserted thefront end of a rear elastic element 59 which is secured therein bystitching 60.

In Figures 3, 4 and 5, a rear waistband lining generally indicated at Elin the form of a curtain is secured as by stitching to the upper edgesof the rear panel 5i and the iiap portion Sla, while its lower edge isunsecured except in the vicinity of the side pocket. This rear waistbandlining El is in the form of a curtain and, as shown in Figures 3 and 5,is made up of three sectional pieces 52, 63 and Eli, which overlie eachother at their respective adjacent end portions. This lining 6l can befabricated as a single piece of material. The lower edge of the curtain6l is doubled over on itself and secured by a stitching indicated at 65.The stitching 65 can pass through the rear hip panel 5l, thereby thewaistband 6I will form with the adjacent portion of the rear panel 5I arear tubular waistband.

Where the lining or curtain portions 52 and 63 overlie each other thereis inserted therebetween the rear end of the rear elastic element 59 andthe stitching indicated at 55 secures together those overlying parts andthe end of the elastic element. In Figure 4, the section of curtain 63is shown attached at its upper edge to the rear hip portion 5|. The rearelastic element 59 is shown lying between the curtain 63 and the rearhip portion.

The curtain section 64 forms with the liap portion Sla, over which itlies, a tubular casing generally indicated at 61 in Figures 3 and 5.Within this tubular element is inserted a forward elastic element B8which has its rear end secured between the overlying sections 63 and 613of the waistband as by stitching 69 passing through the overlyingsections and the elastic element. The forward end of the elastic elementis secured between the overlying facing portions 56 and 5l, abovedescribed, as by stitching '13, passing through the overlying facing andthe elastic element. The forward elastic element 58 is free to movewithin the tubular casing generally indicated at 6?.

In Figure 6, there is shown a modified way of attaching the elasticelements to their waistband portions. In this illustration, theattachment of the forward end of forward elastic element 6l' is shown.The curtain or waistband is generally indicated at 61' and comprises asingle strip as contrasted with the sectionally built-up curtain 6lshown in Figures 3 and 5. The curtain Bi has formed therein a plait 7lby merely folding a portion of the material of 6 i back over itself.Within the plait ll, there is inserted the end of the elastic element 5land stitching T2 passes through the plait and the elastic element. Thissame type of waistband construction can be utilized for attaching therear ends of the elastic elements.

The side pocket I3 which is of normal proportions and constructioncomprises an outer wall 'I4 and an inner wall l5 which are jointedtogether at their forward edges to form an open loop or foldable portionas indicated at 15. In its most forward position, the forward edge ofthe loop is indicated at 'l1 in Figures 1 and 3 while in its mostrearward position, the forward edge of the plait is indicated at 'l1' inFigures 2 and 5. The rearward portion of the upper edge 'I3- of theouter wall 14, see Figure 5, is attached to the lower and adjacent edgeof the front waistband lining 5l leaving the forward portion of theupper edge of the outer wall unsecured so as to form a portion of theopen loop 15. The rear edge of the outer wall 14 is stitched to the rearedge or welt 55' of the front panel 50, see Figure 2. The inner Wall 15whose rear portion lies behind the flap portion 5l a has the rearwardportion of its upper edge 19,

`see Figures 3 and 5, stitched to the lower adjacent edge of the forwardend of the rear waistband lining El. The rear edge of the inner wall 15is secured to the forward portion of the rear panel 5| by the seam at52. The lower portions of the side walls lli and 'l5 of the pocket arejoined together at their rear and lower edges. This joint is below thepocket opening and the seam 52, see Figure l, and allows the pocket 73to swing free as a side swing pocket. The forward edge 53 vof the iiapportion Sla is secured, as described previously, to the adjacent portionof the inner pocket wall 'I5 by stitching 53. Thus, the parallellydisposed elastic elements 59 and 68 provide double acting yieldablemeans that may be readily associated with a garment of the continuousfront type at a minimum expenditure of time, labor and oost, so as toinsure the garment securely and comfortably engaging the waist or hipportion of the wearer.

It can readily be seen that this form of waistband permits theelimination of the use of a belt and the customary belt loops and tunnelloops. It also conceals the elastic elements inside tubular and tubularlike casings of the waistband which permits the elastic elements to beout of contact with the shirt or waist garment usually worn by thewearer. The elastic elements work against or in opposition to each otherin holding the various parts of the form-fitting garment about the waistof the wearer so as to permit automatic adjustment to the waist of thewearer, and at the same time, affect a smooth, even appearance.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to theillustrated details of construction but that variations in the form andarrangement of parts are contemplated under the claim which follows.

I claim:

A waistband garment of the class described comprising front and rearconnected panels, said front and rear panels being disconnected at theirupper portion to form a pocket opening, said front panel having areduced rearwardly extending portion adjacent the waistline, a frontwaistband lining attached to the inner side of the front panel and saidreduced portion and co-extensive in length therewith, said rear panelbeing formed with a forwardly extending flap underlapping the frontpanel adjacent to the pocket opening, a rear waistband lining secured tothe inside of the rear panel and to said flap adjacent the waistline,said rear panel and said rear waistband lining forming an open endedbelt receiving tube, a forward elastic element having one end connectedto said front waistband lining and its opposite end received within theopen ended tube and secured therein, said rear panel having a verticalslot at the waistline and adjacent the juncture of the flap therewith,said rearwardly extending reduced portion and said front waistbandlining extending through said slot so that portions thereof arepositioned between the rear panel and the rear waistband lining, a rearelastic element between the rear panel and the rear waistband lining,said rear elastic element being attached at one end to said rearwardlyextending reduced portion of the front panel and said front waistbandlining and its opposite end being secured to said rear waistband lining,a side pocket in said opening and having an inner wall and an outerwall, said outer wall being connected at its rear upper edge to saidfront waistband lining, the rear upper edge of said inner wall beingconnected to the lower edge of said rear waistband lining and to saidiiap, the forward upper edges of said side pocket being unattached andforming an open loop so that the walls of the pocket are movable withtheir respective waistband linings, and said elastic elements beingdisposed substantially parallel to each other and movable in oppositedirections for automatically adjusting the waistband portion of thegarment to fit the waist of the wearer.

RALPH R. FANNIN G.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 916,577 Morton Mar. 30, 19091,767,649 Chateld June 24, 1930 2,024,922 Hendel Dec. 17, 1935 2,118,797Sanders May 24, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 101,665Australia July 20, 1937 450,848 Great Britain July 23, 1936

